Vectra - Brand snobbery or truly awful?
Discussion
Maybe Im a bit misled due to mainly owning vauxhalls and my dad having a number of them but I simply dont get the negativity surrounding the last version of the vectra.
Maybe I'm not ph enough but for a decent sized family hatch it ticks all the boxes I need.
Cheap to buy, on par with similarly priced and sized looks wise, eats miles without a grumble, pushes along well enough when asked and swallows all of our family luggage.
So is it simply case of vauxhall having a certain image or am I completely missing something?
Maybe I'm not ph enough but for a decent sized family hatch it ticks all the boxes I need.
Cheap to buy, on par with similarly priced and sized looks wise, eats miles without a grumble, pushes along well enough when asked and swallows all of our family luggage.
So is it simply case of vauxhall having a certain image or am I completely missing something?
They are ok and do fulfil the family car criteria very well, with decent engines and plenty of cabin space, they also are very good on the motorway, but the interiors are awful and dynamics were not at the top of the designers list.
If I was given one I wouldn't complain but I'd probably buy a Mondeo of similar vintage, or an Accord, or an Avensis or something else.
If I was given one I wouldn't complain but I'd probably buy a Mondeo of similar vintage, or an Accord, or an Avensis or something else.
Vladimir said:
I had a hire one for a week and did 2500 miles in it for a repping job.
It was truly dreadful and handled downright dangerously.
We then hired a top spec late model estate and it wasn't all that bad.
Are there any modern cars that handle "dangerously"? Sounds more like driving beyond limits of the car, or something wrong with the car. My dad had both mk 1 and mk2 Vectras and is still here to tell the tale, and his commute was over 20 miles on twisty A and B roads.It was truly dreadful and handled downright dangerously.
We then hired a top spec late model estate and it wasn't all that bad.
As a fairly cheap large family car there really is nothing wrong with them. But to listen to the PH hate of Vauxhall you would think Vauxhall had reintroduced the Lada Riva!
I've had two Vectra Bs, one had a blown ECU fuse which a dealer couldn't diagnose and another needed a set of plugs to cure a misfire. I thought they were fine, particularly quiet well built and a doddle to work on.
I get the latest in offerings from a wide variety of manufacturers as hire cars for a week or so with my job and I really rate the Insignia and the Vectra before it. I think they're slightly nicer designed than the Ford equivalents, although the new shape Mondeo is a bit more economical than the Insignias in my hands. Worst mid size I've ever had was an Avensis, felt very old fashioned and clunky. Extra switches in weird places.
I get the latest in offerings from a wide variety of manufacturers as hire cars for a week or so with my job and I really rate the Insignia and the Vectra before it. I think they're slightly nicer designed than the Ford equivalents, although the new shape Mondeo is a bit more economical than the Insignias in my hands. Worst mid size I've ever had was an Avensis, felt very old fashioned and clunky. Extra switches in weird places.
fitz1985 said:
SystemParanoia said:
I drive a vectra mk1
my parents have an insignia.
whilst the insignia feels epically huge.. its not offensive, and doesnt cut the throttle when you try to heel toe or left foor brake.. so its all good to me
Nice Satin Red Vectra my parents have an insignia.
whilst the insignia feels epically huge.. its not offensive, and doesnt cut the throttle when you try to heel toe or left foor brake.. so its all good to me
needs a few bits and bobs sorting on it.. but cant wait to get it earning its keep doing 12 car rallys over the winter
Interesting so far.
Dont really understand the dangerous to drive. That said I think I did read that the car went through a pretty big change during the mk3 (c) facelift which mine is.
Also does anyone one knowwif the sri id different to other models (bar the vxr) ive always presumed its just cosmetic?
Dont really understand the dangerous to drive. That said I think I did read that the car went through a pretty big change during the mk3 (c) facelift which mine is.
Also does anyone one knowwif the sri id different to other models (bar the vxr) ive always presumed its just cosmetic?
Ross1303 said:
Also does anyone one knowwif the sri id different to other models (bar the vxr) ive always presumed its just cosmetic?
SRI has more supportive seats than the others, along with lowered and uprated suspension but it lacks a surprising amount of kit. Elite is the luxury spec and adds things like climate, heated leather seats, electric rear windows.I had a 2.2 SXi Vectra (Mk2 I guess) when they came out, mine was a 2003 saloon with the 3 spoke wheel. It was on what turned out to be a wonky lease, the car got repo'd as it turned out the lease company werent paying their bills to the bank and they wanted the car back
While I had it, it was a really nice car. I've always found Vauxhalls better to accelerate in third. You can give it some, I'm assuming due to some longer gearing. Fords I've always found second gear to be the one to accelerate in, but this Vectra liked 70 in third.
I'd been in the earlier Vectras and the change was night and day in terms of space, the newer ones were huge. I could get in the boot fairly easily, and I'm 6'2 and there'd be room to spare. Realy liked that car, the aircon was particularly nice. Bit square on the inside though
While I had it, it was a really nice car. I've always found Vauxhalls better to accelerate in third. You can give it some, I'm assuming due to some longer gearing. Fords I've always found second gear to be the one to accelerate in, but this Vectra liked 70 in third.
I'd been in the earlier Vectras and the change was night and day in terms of space, the newer ones were huge. I could get in the boot fairly easily, and I'm 6'2 and there'd be room to spare. Realy liked that car, the aircon was particularly nice. Bit square on the inside though
I owned three Vectra B's and a 'C'
I really liked the B's. My Satin Red(lovely colour) 1.8 was my first 'big' car and it was a great workhorse for a couple of years. I then owned two of the 2.6 GSi's which I'd lusted after for a while. I really liked 'em tbh, not particularly quick but they sounded great and looked nice as an estate.
I owned a Vectra 'C' for about a month. I hated the thing so much I'd decided to sell it before I'd even got home after buying it. Loathed the interior and things started to go wrong with it at an alarming rate.
I really liked the B's. My Satin Red(lovely colour) 1.8 was my first 'big' car and it was a great workhorse for a couple of years. I then owned two of the 2.6 GSi's which I'd lusted after for a while. I really liked 'em tbh, not particularly quick but they sounded great and looked nice as an estate.
I owned a Vectra 'C' for about a month. I hated the thing so much I'd decided to sell it before I'd even got home after buying it. Loathed the interior and things started to go wrong with it at an alarming rate.
Ross1303 said:
Interesting so far.
Dont really understand the dangerous to drive.
In the case of the VXR - far too much power for it's own good, before anyone had ever worked out how to make FWD cars handle. Not dangerous per se, once you get used to it inventing corners where there aren't any. The flip-benefit being that it finds overtaking opportunities where there usually aren't any.Dont really understand the dangerous to drive.
V8 my parents, I say this as my dad bought it for himself but it was technically my mum's daily driver, had the 2.5 GSI b. It was indeed a lovely thing.
Symbolica I did find it a tad surprising to find winders in the back of my SRI even on an 07, that said the s40 before it had them too so Im not overly concerned
Symbolica I did find it a tad surprising to find winders in the back of my SRI even on an 07, that said the s40 before it had them too so Im not overly concerned
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